No-Shame Programs May Appeal to Obese

Please note: This article was published more than one year ago. The facts and conclusions presented may have since changed and may no longer be accurate. And "More information" links may no longer work. Questions about personal health should always be referred to a physician or other health care professional.

"This study provides a number of new insights into how and why obese individuals support and uptake different interventions," Dr. Samantha Thomas, of Monash University in Melbourne, said in a journal news release.

"Importantly, participants supported public health interventions, which they perceived were non-judgmental, non-stigmatizing and empowered individuals to improve their lifestyles rather than focusing on weight loss per se. Participants in this study were less likely to view interventions as effective if they thought they were stigmatizing, or blamed and shamed individuals for being overweight."

Because of the use of scare tactics, commercial dieting programs and media campaigns were rated as particularly bad by the respondents. Many viewed the dieting industry as "greedy," "a scam," and "a rip-off," Thomas said.

"Ironically, many participants still said they would turn to commercial dieting to help lose weight and improve their health. This was because they had very little other support available to them," she noted.

"There is a need for greater attention to be dedicated to interventions that support and empower individuals to improve their lifestyle. At the individual level, personalized care planning and long-term support systems must be developed to assist obese individuals. At the population level, anti-stigma campaigns and regulation should both be explored," Thomas concluded.